Practicing God’s Peace

John 14:27 (NKJV)
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Peace of mind is sought after vehemently by most people today. But, the greatest blunder most people make is the method by which they seek to obtain this peace. Many seek for money, fame, possessions, popularity, drugs, alcohol, sexual pleasure and many other forms of gratification which only bring a momentary peace for a very short time. God, on the other hand, grants us His peace at the moment of salvation which is durable throughout eternity.

Why is it then that we have such difficulty maintaining peace throughout the day? Our predicaments are usually based on focus. Paul told us, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful”, (Colossians 3:15, NKJV). Paul admonishes us to let God’s peace rule in our hearts, but this comes at a price. The previous verse, Colossians 3:14, tells us to put on love. We need to focus on the love of God and loving others persistently before we can walk in this peace. We also need to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly (Col. 3:16), which shows we need to regularly seek God and His word.

By practicing these principles, we can know God’s peace despite our surroundings. Anxiety hinders peace, lack of prayer cripples peace and lack of thankfulness destroys our Mindset for peace. Paul says, “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”, (Philippians, 4:6-7, NKJV). Focusing on Christ, what He has done for us in the past and His promises breed peace. His very words saying that He will never leave us should always bring about a sense of rest and peace.

We cannot produce this peace in and of ourselves. It is Christ alone by which we can know this peace, “For He Himself is our peace”, (Eph. 2:14a). Christ is our peace and one of the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit is peace. At salvation we have peace with God, so it is then of utmost importance that we focus on God Himself, Who is our peace.

We also need to pass on this peace to others. We need to live out a peaceful lifestyle, showing the peace of God to others despite our situations. We also need to show grace and mercy to those who present a problem to us. Paul says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men”, (Romans 12:18, NKJV). When others treat us poorly, we need to choose to focus on the love of God, on how many times He has forgiven us. Think about how He keeps on accepting us despite the way we act at times and then display that to others.

Thoughts, comment, objections, prayer requests.



Daniel A. Smith

What Will Others Think

Matthew 1:18-21 (NKJV)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Can you imagine the thoughts that went through the mind of Mary and Joseph at the conception of Christ? An angel came to Mary and declared to her that she was chosen to bring forth the Savior of the world. She probably thought, “why me” or “how could I be worthy to bear the Son of God?” Many different thoughts could have gone through her mind. One of the most embarrassing questions she probably asked was, “what will the neighbors think?”

Today’s passage also displays the struggles that Joseph encountered. He and Mary were engaged. Joseph was a just man who had an upright reputation in society. When Mary’s pregnancy was revealed to him, he probably had many different kinds of thoughts. He could have felt rejection, dishonor and he probably wondered why Mary had sought after another man. At this time and in this culture an engaged couple were already considered married, but they could not live together as a married couple until the wedding one year later. They would have needed to get divorced to break their engagement.

Joseph sought to handle things discreetly, so he wanted to put her away secretly. By all reasoning, he could have felt violated and extremely upset. In addition he probably wondered what others would think. He was not guilty of any wrong doing and he did not want to be tagged with the stigma of promiscuity for the rest of his life. The fact that he wanted to divorce her secretly proved the fact that he was not malicious, but he just wanted to get rid of a messy situation.

God knew his thoughts, so it took a special manifestation of God in a dream for Joseph to realize that it was God Himself who had fertilized the seed of Mary. At this point, he exercised great faith in God by not being overtaken by his feelings. He knew that others would talk about him wrongly and tag him incorrectly. But his faith in God was the greatest passion of his life. He correctly exercised Act 5:29b, where it says, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Because of his faith each one of us now has the opportunity to believe in Christ and be delivered from our sins. Can you imagine this, your faith can affect many other people. So, exercise it often and with wisdom.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.



Daniel A. Smith

Immanuel

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV)
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

One of the many wonders of the scriptures is the fact that when God makes a promise He always stays true to His word. The prophecy of God’s gift to man was promised many times and verified in many ways. Within this verse we find that God said a virgin would bear a Son. This humanly is an utter impossibility. How can a woman who has never known a man produce a child without fertilization from a man?

The next part of this verse prophesies that this Son will be named Immanuel which is defined as “God with us”. So, what significance is this? God has been with us since the beginning of time. God is evident in nature and His creativity is evident in countless areas of life. In this sense, God is with us from eternity past through eternity future. But our verse is taking this to a new level. God is saying that this human Son shall be called God with us. This must mean that this Son was God and man at the same time.

Scripture goes on to verify this fact in very subtle but extremely powerful ways when Christ came. Within the first chapter of book of Matthew we are given a genealogy of very key examples of faith from King David up until the time of Christ. Each one of the men on the list where recorded to have “begot” a son. Begot is a word used of men who fathered a child and this child would carry forth their lineage. But when we get to Christ, the wording is amazingly different. Matthew, at this point, states, “And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ”, (Matthew 1:16, NKJV).

The word “of whom” has amazing significance. In the original language this is a feminine singular word. This means that human seed came from a female alone. This could have only been Mary. Christ was fully human, completely able to feel and experience all that we do today. But the seed of fertilization was not of the human Joseph since they merely engaged and she was still, bodily a virgin. The seed had to be from the very God of heaven. Human seed and fertilized by God can only create a God/Man. This is why we can call Him Immanuel.

No other theology has been challenged more harshly that the deity of Christ. But, without Christ being God, He is nothing but a good man and not a Savior. John states in his first verse, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”, (John 1:1, NKJV). And Paul said, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist”, (Colossians 1:16, NKJV). Christ is God and holds all things together. The fact that He is Immanuel shows that He knows all that we go through, but He is also the Savior in whom we trust for salvation and all other things in life.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.



Daniel A. Smith

Undying Faith

Romans 4:20
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God

Within scripture, we are given many examples of people who believed God. Within these examples, we have those who stand out as exemplary because they believed God in spite of what people said or what it looked like at the time. Today’s verse concerns Abraham. He did not waver in unbelief concerning God’s promise. He found strength in God when all around him said that there was no hope. It is righteous to believe God. Paul says that Abraham, “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness”, (Galatians 3:6, NKJV). Abraham believed God for a son as a young man and God delivered His promise when Abraham was 100 years old. This alone is a great example of long enduring faith.

It only takes a mustard seed of faith to believe God, but it takes God’s power and strength to put this into action. We need to look past our emotions, our circumstances and others remarks. We need to trust God as Paul said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight”, (2 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV).

Great examples of faith are evident in the Old Testament. Nehemiah knew that God wanted him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. After he sought God in prayer, he discovered a travesty of rubble where the old wall had once stood. He believed God anyway and began the task. The community complained and political leaders gave him a challenge. The workers needed to work day and night with a tool in one hand and a sword in the other to fight off the enemies. His workers began to complain and wanted to quit. He believed God, prayed unwavering and helped as much as he could. The wall was then built in 52 days. When we believe God and walk in His ways great things happen.

Job was an upright and very successful man before God and others. He owned more than most people and God tested him. His wealth, family and health where taken away, but he would not speak against God. His first response at his many disasters was, “And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD”, (Job 1:21, NKJV). Job was willing to accept the fact that God is in control and He knows what He is doing.

He even received resistance from his closest supporter, his wife. “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”, (Job 2:9, NKJV). His closest friends also condemned him and tried to shake his faith in God. Job did not let these things bother him. He kept His faith in God and God rewarded him with double the wealth and double the size of His Family.

We all need to believe God despite what it looks like, despite what it feels like or despite what other people are saying. We need to obey God and then say as Ester did, “If I perish, I perish”, (Esther 4:16f, NKJV). She was willing to believe God even if it cost her very life.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.



Daniel A. Smith

The Goal of Jealousy

Exodus 34:14 (NKJV)
For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God

Most of the time, when we think of jealously, we think of a possessively enraged boyfriend or husband who wants total control of his female counterpart. Or we think of an insecure teenage girl blinded by jealously because her friend has something or someone that she does not have. The goal of this kind of jealously tends to be one of revenge or stealing back that which they thought was theirs.

With God, though, His goal is quite different. God indeed is jealous and He wants all of our love to be directed toward Him, but His method of gaining our love is quite different. Observe the way He has responded to those who have stepped away from Him. Adam and Eve had a pure relationship with God, no sin present, and they only had one way to disobey. Even though they did walk away and fail God’s command, what did God do? Did He destroy them or completely wipe them out? No, He treated them with love. Any father who loves his children will discipline them and then give them another chance. Even though Adam’s decision affected the whole human race, God still gave him and sinful man a way to still reach Him – faith.

God’s chosen people grumbled continually in the wilderness. They walked away from Him many time and openly disobeyed His commands, but God had mercy on them time and time again. He did not respond in hurt or vengeance, but He responded in love in order to win their love back toward Him.

We disobey God all the time and He will forgive us every time if we ask Him. God’s methods are one of winning our love and not one of enraged wrath because He has lost our love for that second. Man has committed every kind of despairingly evil form of wickedness, walking away from Him and rejecting Him in every form possible. But He humbled Himself, became a man, experienced life as we do, died in our place because we sinned against Him, and He did this all out of love. He jealously yearns for our love, but He will not force us to love Him if we do not want it. He may make things very uncomfortable in order to show us how much we need Him, but He is only doing this out of extreme love for us.

He desires to have an intimate relationship with us so deeply that he will go to every extent to bring us to Himself. He will use every form of kindness and love to capture our love, but if we do not want it we will be disciplined or allowed to see the results of our decisions. This truly pains the heart of God when He offers His best and we still reject it. But it trills His heart when we follow Him and obey Him in faith.

The only people that God will not forgive any more are those who have died and have knowingly rejected him. They no longer have a chance after death. If you have never asked Jesus to be your savior, you still have a chance before your last breath. Repent of your sins and trust Him as savior this day.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

The Necessity of Thankfulness

Psalm 118:29 (NKJV)
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Why are you thankful about God thankful today? Today’s verse reminds us that He is good and His mercy endures forever. We learn what goodness actually is from God because God’s very nature is good and He can be nothing less than good. It is good that He displays His mercy for by it, we learn how caring He is toward us and how we should treat others.

Another reason to be thankful to God is the fact that He is worthy. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created”, (Rev. 4:11, NKJV). God is the creator and sustainer, He owns all things and He keeps it all running. Our heart should be filled with thankfulness that He is in control and not us.

The greatest provision of God for which we need to be thankful is salvation unto man. Just think of it. God, from eternity past, wanted to fellowship with those who willingly love Him. He created the universe and the world and He keeps it all running like a fine tuned machine. In the midst of all this, man sinned and rejected God, wanting no part of God at all. God then left the astounding greatness of heaven, He became a man and experienced greater pain and rejection than any of us will ever know. He then died in our place in order to buy back the relationship that we rejected. All we need to do, after repentance, is trust Him by faith and He will allow us to experience heaven with Him forever. How can we not be thankful for this!

We need to be reminded repeated to thank Him. We need to be thankful of His many provisions. Paul reminds us, “19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever“, (Phil. 4:19-20). God always provides for our needs, but many of us forget the last three words, “by Christ Jesus”. He will provide for His children, in His way, in His time and this is all for His glory. The amazing fact is that God’s glory is always for our best good. This very fact should make thankfulness spring up within us to the uttermost.

Since God is in control and He does all things for our good, it is then that we can have the same Mindset as Paul. “16 Rejoice always, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thessalonians 5:16,18, NKJV). The only way we can rejoice always is by securely resting in our God by faith and being contented with His absolute control. A restful trust in God results in thanksgiving and not tension.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

The God Of Understanding

Psalm 147:5 (NKJV)
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.

We have a wonderful heavenly Father who is greater than anyone’s mind can understand. He is creator, sustainer, He understands all that is happening and He keeps it all straight. There are not enough books in the world to write about the immensity of God’s understanding. His understanding is infinite and does not end. By means of God’s vast understanding He allows us to have such a blessed relationship with Him, if we so choose.

First of all, God realizes that we are human. Even though God is the God of all power, He realizes who we are and our limitations. David says, “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust”, (Ps. 103:14, NKJV). He knows our weaknesses and all the struggles that we face, so He will not allow anything to happen that we cannot handle. Only a God of care and understanding could keep straight all the needs of all people.

He also understands us very intimately. Since He is the creator, He knows our design and all of our needs. He also knows all the private things that we have not shared with others. David says in Ps. 44:21b, “For He knows the secrets of the heart.” It is amazing, the God of all power, who knows everything about us, wants to share Himself with us and experience an intimate relationship with us. In turn, we can know Him also in this way.

God knows if and when we trust Him and He also understands the depth of our commitment that we have toward Him. As walk in faith, we find that we can trust Him in more and more things and at all times. Nahum says, “The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who trust in Him”, (Nahum 1:7, NKJV).

Another amazing fact about God’s understanding is that He share’s it with us. As we study His word, spend time with Him in prayer and trust Him through the difficult things in life, He will grant us greater understanding in order to deal with life to a greater degree. He also grants us understanding in our relationships with others. Through this we can have encouragement toward others. Paul says, “that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ”, (Colossians 2:2, NKJV).

Just remember, rely on God’s understanding and not your own. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV).

        Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

Being Your Brother’s Keeper

Hebrews 10:24,25 (NKJV)
²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

How much do the needs of others concern you throughout the day? The writer of the book of Hebrews is trying to emphasize how vital it is to recognize others. The word “consider” has the idea of fixing our eyes upon or considering attentively. We need to make the concerns of others a major part of each day. Others are hurting all around us and it is us (God’s children) that He uses as the vehicle to minister to others.

We need to “stir up” love and good works in others. To stir up has the same idea of contending in a fight. Helping other continually can be a battle and a struggle. First of all, we may have to fight with selfishness. Reaching out to others who do not want help is very difficult, because we need to reach out to all people in a humble manner. Secondly, we may face the battle of sacrificial love. In order to encourage others unto love and good works we need to think and feel as the other person thinks and feels. We need feel their hurts as they do, understand their situation and basically become them in their situation in order to reach out properly.

In order to accomplish this we need to spend time with each other. We need to encourage one another continually and not waste any time doing it. The Day of the Lord is approaching soon, so we need to invest in other people’s lives as much as we can.

People need to get into the house of the Lord. We cannot abandon corporate worship time in the house of the Lord and we need to help others see the joy of it also. We need to attend regular bible studies, prayer sessions and accountability groups where we can share our lives with each other and stimulate others to good works and love. Another thing we need is plenty of fellowship. Let us all have as much fun as we possibly can in the midst of working for God. Fun, fellowship and laughing with each other go a long way in our spiritual, mental, emotional and physical development.

Is God burdening your heart for someone at this time? Reach out to them in the way that you only can for the sake of the Lord.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests?

Daniel A. Smith

God’s Faithfulness

Psalms 119:89-90 (NKJV)
⁸⁹ Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations, You established the earth, and it abides.

God’s faithfulness is amazing in every way possible. This verse promises us that God’s word is always faithful to the point that it can be trusted forever. Since He created the earth and put it into motion, He certainly can keep it going, faithfully providing all that is needed for operation.

God is faithful to forgive every time that we ask. When we want his forgiveness He will faithfully forgive us every time. We have to want it first of all. John says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”, (I John 1:9, NKJV).

God is faithful in His mercy toward us. If He operated only by justice, we would be consumed. But His heart of compassion knows us fully and feels for us in the same way that we experience life, every day that we live. “²² Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.²³ They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness”, (Lamentations, 3:22-23, NKJV).

He is faithful despite whether or not we are faithful. He will only stay true to His very nature. He is faithful, He is love, He is eternal and cannot lie. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, He cannot deny Himself”, (2 Timothy 2:13, NKJV). Since God is uncompromisingly true to faithfulness and goodness, we also should seek to maintain the same standards. This can only be done in His power and through and undying commitment to be like Him.

God not only sends goodness faithfully, but He also will faithfully test us in order to strengthen us and empower us to become more like Him. Pain and difficulty tend to bring us to the point of greater dependence on God. Many times, God must use trials and difficulties in our lives in order to accomplish this. David knew this in his life. “I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me”, (Psalms 119:75, NKJV).

If we believe God and trust Him, He will carry out this sanctifying work. Paul says, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it”, (I Thessalonians 5:24, NKJV). God will stay true to His promises.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

Selfless Love

Ephesians 5:25,28 (NKJV)
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

        Marriage is subject of much debate at this point in history. There are mixed emotions and ideas as to what are the roles in marriage. Above all, when Jesus Christ is the center of marriage or any relationship, it is then that such a relationship will be a success.

        Just think of God and how He has treated us. He loves us enough to give His life for us. He provides all that we need – nothing more and nothing less. He would give us much more, but He knows what is best for us. He knows all of our needs – spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, social, financial and all other needs that we encounter. His timing may not be ours but He will always provide for our needs. This is only of glimpse of how Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it. But, this is an example that all husbands must learn.

        Never in scripture are women commanded to love their husbands because they naturally love their soul mate. It is the man that is commanded to love sacrificially, even the point of death. A man needs to choose to love his wife and cherish her. This is not always easy since he is wired differently than the woman. He is to love her as he loves himself.

        Paul gives the chain of command. “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God”, (I Cor. 11:3, NKJV). If you notice, the only comparison which uses a superior person is the comparison of man and Christ. God is not superior to Christ, they are both God, but God the father has taken the leadership role. The man is not superior to the woman he is just the leader in the union of marriage. Christ is superior to the man in every way possible. So, as we see here the man has a very great responsibility. He not only needs to become like Christ in sacrificially love and amazing leadership. He also needs to give Himself for her, providing for all her needs just as Christ does the church.

        Most women do not like the word submit, but a woman who is seeking to obey God, will willingly submit to a man who loves her and would give anything to provide for her emotional and physical needs in life. When Christ is the center, the man loves the woman as Christ does the church and the woman respects the husband, this is a union that cannot be broken. “And a threefold cord is not quickly broken”, (Ecclesiastes 4:12b, NKJV).

        Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

Godly Maturity

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2 Timothy 2:22-24 (NKJV)

²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.

When a child of God is committed to Him, this is a quality that will be evident to others. Such a person will desire the heart of God and also desire to please Him. This desire is in the process of maturity. Godly maturity involves two aspects:

1.   Keeping away from childish actions and

2.   Dwelling on that which is pure and right

The first action that Paul tells us to do is to flee youthful lusts. We are to treat lust as childish and as a reprehensible cancer which we cannot stand to even think about. As a child, we play with sin and foolishness. The child of God’s heart should be so sold out to the ways of God so that childish behavior is looked at as being stupid. Let’s face it, an adult does not put their hand on a hot stove to play with fire, they respect the fact that by this behavior they will get burned. Physically we may need to flee (run from) lust, but mentally we must do this also.

After putting aside childish actions, we need to pursue godliness. Righteousness, faith, love and peace are only attained by full submission to the Spirit of God. This is only accomplished in His power and our willingness to be completely humbled and broken by God for His use. Each of these aspects listed must be studied, dwelled upon and desired by the child of God. As the Spirit of God takes greater control in our life, we can be used with these qualities. It will not happen overnight, these are the life time challenges that God has given each one of us.

Paul added that we need to seek these things around those who call about the Lord out of a pure heart. We all need Godly examples, Godly leaders, Godly friends and many Godly influences in order to be established unto full Godly maturity.

We also need to realize where a discussion is going before we get involved. As children, we engage in silly fights and arguments that only show our lack of knowledge and experience. But, as a mature child of God, we need to stop such actions before they start. Paul says that they only “generate strife”, (vs. 23b). Avoiding an argument is much less messy than getting out of it. For example, try to remember what you argued about yesterday and was it worth the hurt that it caused?

The requirements of the humble servant of God involve lack of hostility, gentleness, ability to teach and patience. A heart fully embraced by the Spirit of God will see a silly dispute before is started and avoid it.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

The Healing of a Nation

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

        The rise and fall of any nation is according to whether or not the people of God are following God’s plan or not. If you ask 100 people how to fix the problems of this country, you will get 100 different responses. God’s word carries the only way that a nation is to be blessed.

        Did God tell us that every last person needs to clean up their lives, to heal the nation? No. Did God tell us that we need a bigger government? No. Did He say that more Christians need to be involved of leadership roles? No. He went straight to His people. The only people that can properly help a nation are God’s people. The biggest problem is the fact that God’s people do not want to do what God says in His word.

First of all, He tells His people to humble themselves. If we do not have a humble spirit, God cannot work through us to His full extent. We need to be willing to do or go anywhere that God leads. Too often selfishness, busyness, lack of desire or comfort often distracts us from seeing things God’s way. After humility, we need to pray. Prayer takes commitment, time and work. But the power that we see in prayer, the blessing we receive and the changes that happen are all worth every effort to pray. We have an enemy who knows the power of prayer and he will stop at nothing to keep us from praying.

Seeking the face of God is a vital component of prayer. In many ways this is similar to prayer, but when we seek God’s face we are on a mission to know our heavenly Father greater. We want to know Him to the fullest extent possible and experience Him personally in every way.

We also must turn from our wicked ways. Too many of us say one thing and do another. Sometimes we even tell God or promise to Him one thing and do another. Repentance is a key aspect to our salvation, but we need to practice this every time we fail. Every sin and weakness that we have needs to be seen as a repulsive cancer that we need to run away from.

It is then that God will hear the cry of our hearts and heal our land. God does not says “if My leaders” or “if select people” do this, He will heal our land. He states “My people”. “People” is a plural term, we need to seek Him as a body, a team, a full unit in order for Him to realize how serious we really are. The only way our land will be helped is if we corporately come to God on our knees in all purity and humility.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

Beginning and End

Beginning and End

Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.

At the end of the bible, Jesus informs us of the things that He displayed and established throughout all of time and His life. First of all He says that He is the alpha and omega. These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. By this, He is saying that He is of primary interest to all people throughout all of history. He is omnipotent (all powerful) and in control. He began the whole existence of man and by His second coming, He will end it.

Jesus is the creator. John says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:3, NKJV). Since He created all things, He certainly has the power and authority to sustain all things and provide for our needs. Paul says, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist”, (Colossians 1:3, NKJV). He not only caused things to exist, but He is intimately concerned about every detail of our life.

Jesus wants to protect His children from all harm and He wants to keep us walking in His ways. Many times, it is leaving and returning that are the most critical times in a journey. Jesus realizes this and He’s wants to help you through this. David said, “The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore”, (Psalms 121:8). If we commit all things into His hands and trust Him, He will help us throughout every step in life. He is concerned about even the most difficult times of life. Our mind can rest when we know that He is in control.

He is eternal, He has no limits in time or space or power. He can do all things and has control over all things in the universe. But yet, He is concerned about every hair on our head and every drop of water in the sea. A God who possesses that much power but is still concerned about every detail of our life must only be driven by love. God is love and there is nothing in Him that He wants to show us more than love. He will show justice to sin and unrighteousness, but His primary object is to show love. Why else would the very God of heaven, leave glory, live among sinful man and die an unfair death for our sake? His main obsession must be love.

His eternality is real and He is worthy of all glory, praise, honor and fear. “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36, NKJV).

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

The Payment of Christ

Romans 3:24-26 (NKJV)
²⁴ being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, ²⁶ to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

        Redemption, propitiation and righteousness are very amazing subjects in scripture. Now that I’ve put to sleep 75% of all readers and made the other 25% to lose interest, I just want to attempt to make these subjects more real. In verse 24, Paul says that we are justified by grace through redemption. To be justified is to be declared completely righteous and holy by Christ. This allows us to be “just as if I’d never sinned” before God.

        Here’s the condition, we come into this world completely sold out to sin. We deserve punishment and judgment for out acts and should justly send us to hell. But instead of judgment, Christ came along and gave us grace. He gave to us a gift that we did not deserve. In fact, when we deserved judgment, He gave us a reward. He brought us out of sin by paying our debt with His own life. Upon trusting in Him, we have the authority to share the joy and rewards of heaven. God has allowed this for all who believe.

        The word propitiation means payment or satisfaction of payment. Jesus paid our debt with His own life, taking upon Himself the wrath of God, when we were sold out to sin. All we have to do is receive this through faith. By faith he passes over our sins and sees them no more. The word for propitiation is also used for the word “mercy seat”. This again, shows us that God turned a place of judgment into a place of mercy. A place, previously off limits to all except the high priest (once a year) can now be visited freely and boldly by His children. Coming boldly into His presence is an extreme privilege.  So, why do we not spend more time in His presence?

        In verse 25, Paul states that God wanted to be just and the justifier of those who believe. The law was designed to point out sin. It was a harsh tattle tale of wrongs that were violated. God is totally just and deserving to send judgment to man. But, in grace He now wants to reveal and lavish upon us the righteousness that is in Christ. This is done completely in love. The law showed us our sin and the wrath of God. But God did not want to display harshness any more. He, through Christ, wants us to see His loving nature. His gift of grace and His immeasurable mercy is through salvation in Christ.

        Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

The Light of the Word

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

The presence of light is absolutely essential to most aspects of life. The presence of light illuminates exposes and guides. Today’s verse shows us that the word of God is the light we need to use for each step of each day. Without this light we walk in complete darkness, so it is essential that we are daily exposed to the light of the word of God. As we actively seek the light of God’s word, ingesting it regularly, we gain understanding. “The entrance of Your words gives light, It gives understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:130, NKJV).

The light of the word is essential to fellowship with God and others. It also keeps us from sin. John says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7, NKJV).

The light exposes all things, including sin. If we confess our sin, God forgives us and we no longer have to be ashamed or fearful. Thus, the light of God’s word delivers us from fear. ”The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1, NKJV).

As God’s children, we are His representatives and we need to be an example of this light. Personal holiness and routine cleansing of the word need to be a daily practice in order to display this light. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”, (Ephesians 5:8, NKJV).

Any form of light is of no use unless it is on display. We need to shine God’s light in order that a dark world may see it. Matthew says, “¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”, (Matt. 5:14-16, NKJV).

God’s glory is the light. John tells us that it is the glory of God which will be the light in heaven. “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light”, (Revelation 21:23, NKJV.) The lamb of God, His death and resurrection is the glory that can enlighten all men, if we trust Him.

Thought, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

God’s Goodness

 

Psalm 31:19-24 (NKJV)
¹⁹ Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! ²⁰ You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence, from the plots of man. You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

God’s goodness is an inexhaustible subject. God is good in so many ways that we could discuss this for the rest of eternity. God’s goodness is also something that we need to dwell upon a whole lot more than we do. God is good because He gave us life this day. He’s good because He forgives us every time we ask Him. He’s good because He provides for all our needs. He’s good because He has allowed salvation for sinful man. There is not enough paper in the world to write the number of ways that God is good.

God’s goodness is amazing and His goodness is very unique and personal for all of us. God is good to all men but He will favorably treat those who walk in His ways. In verse 19 David tells us that He lays up goodness for those who fear Him. If we fear the Lord, walk in His ways, in faith and love He not only will bless us on this side of heaven, but He has a special blessing in store at heaven’s gates.

His goodness is displayed in a special way when we walk with Him. When we trust and fear God He protects us and hides us from trouble. Does this mean that the child of God will never have trouble in life? Not at all, God still tests us to strengthen our faith and get our attention. He also needs to remind us of the state of the world that we live in.

David says that God hides us in His secret place. Just think of that, God preserves, protects and helps us in a very personal and special ways. He does this in ways that mean so much to us because He wants to have the greatest relationship with us possible. This happens when we walk in His word and in His ways.

The plots of men and the strife of tongues do not have to get us disappointed. God will help us through these things as we trust Him. We can and will know of His goodness – even in the difficult times if we trust and fear Him. Those who know Him as savior will dwell in His presence forever. If we start now by walking in His presence, we can then begin experiencing Him and His goodness right now.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

Why Praise the Lord?

Psalm 30:4 (NKJV)
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

        Praise and thankfulness is a necessary element for the child of God. Not only is praise an expression of who God is and what He deserves, but it also lifts our attitude and cheers our heart. As we see in Ps. 30, one of the reason’s to praise God is the fact that He is holy. God alone is holy and He deserves honor and praise for this alone.

        There are many other reasons to praise the Lord. Most of these reasons are found in the Psalms. Here is a limited list of reasons why we should praise God. Meditate on these and seek other reasons to praise Him in your heart each day.

·        He is worthy – ‘I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies.” (Ps 18:3, NKJV).

·        He is great – ‘Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain.’ (Ps 48:1, NKJV).

·        He is infinite – ‘Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.’ (Ps 145:1, NKJV).

·        He is to be honored – “Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praiseglorious.” (Ps 66:2, NKJV).

·        He is marvelous – “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well” (Ps 139:14, NKJV).

·        Praise is beautiful – “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praisefrom the upright is beautiful.” (Ps 33:1, NKJV).

·        Praise is evangelical – “He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.” (Ps 40:3, NKJV).

·        Praise glorifies God – “Whoever offerspraise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” (Ps 50:23, NKJV).

·        Praise should be continual – “From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD’s name is to be praised.” (Ps 113:3, NKJV).

Begin each day with praise. Praise the Lord throughout the day. Begin praising now, because praise will be continual in eternity. Live each moment with the attitude of David, “Let my mouth be filled with Yourpraise and with Your glory all the day.” (Ps 71:8, NKJV).

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.